Filter



W. F. HOEFER, JR

FILTER Aug. 30, 1949.

Filed Jan. 9, 1945 this adaptation.

Patented Aug. so, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILTER William F. Hoefer, Jr., Altadena,

Calif.

Application January 9, 1945, Serial No. 512,001 s claims. (ci. 21o-167)' It is an object of my invention to provide a filter which is adapted to be mounted in a flow line of a fluid and the filtering element of which may be cleaned without necessity of removing the filter from the line.

Another object of this invention is to provide l a filter adapted to bev mounted ina flow line and which utilizes as the filtering elements intertwined flat spring elements positioned so that the fluid filtered or screened passes between the leads of the spring elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a iilter incorporating intertwined nat spring elements which are adapted` to be compressed to determine the width of the free passage between the leads of such springs and which spring elements are mounted in such manner as to permit their relative rotation in position for removing sediment which may collect in the filtering passes so formed between the leaves or leads of the said springs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filter including intertwined spring elements wherein the ltering passes are provided between the passes or leads of the said springs and which springs are provided with means for determining the spacing of the springs and which means also provides means for removing from the passes foreign matter which will accumulate therein upon relative rotation of the intertwined springs.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In they drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of theV the Hgure-iisairagmentaiplanonanenlarged 65 2 scale `of thespring elements as illustrated in Figure3.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the illter embodying my invention is adapted to be mounted in a ow line which may be a lubrication flow line of an internal combustion engine. 'I'his ilow line is indicated at I and is connected with the inlet 2 of the illter and with the outlet 3 thereof. Mounted in the ilow line I is a branch lead 4 which is normally plugged as indicated at l. Mountedl inthe ilow line before the branch lead I is a valve 8, while mounted in the flow line I beyond the filter outlet is a valve 1.

The filter embodying my invention preferably includes' a head element 8 which is formed with the inlet branch 2 and the outlet branch 3 and a supporting plate 9 to which a sump bowl In is secured by means of suitable screw elements II. Formed through the plates in communication with the inlet branch 2 is an inlet port I2 which 'extends into the sump bowl lo exterior to a n1- ter cylinder I3. Likewise formed through the plate 9 is an outlet port Il which leads into the interior of thefilter cylinder I3 and communicates with the outlet branch 3.

The filtering element embodying my invention is preferably of the following construction and includes the perforated filter retaining cylinder I3 within which there is positioned two helical ilat springs I5 and I6 which areintertwi'ned so that the nat leads of cach spring lie between leads of the opposite spring. The spacing be 35 tween the flat leads of the two springs determines ,the filtering pass I1 through which iluid to be nltered passes in owing from the inlet branch '2 through the bowl I0, the pass I1, and out through the port Il through the discharge branch-3.

Means are provided for atilusting the width of the filtering pass I1 which preferably comprises means for determining the degree of compressionV under which the two springs I5 and It are subjected within the filtering cylinder I3 and as .herein illustrated, includesa compression bar I8 secured to posts I9 depending from the plate 9 and a spring stop collar 20 having an engaging flange 2| against which the upper ends of the springs are seated below the plate t. Mounted within the filter cylinder I3 is a similar stop collar 22 having an end flange 23 against which the lower ends of the springs are seated. The last few turns of the upper end of spring I0 are secured to the rotatable collar 2l.- Similarly,

the last few turns of the lower end of spring I5 are secured to the non-rotatable collar 22.

Means are provided for determining the spacing between the leads of the spring and therefore the width of the iilter channels I'I, which means may be of the following construction: Mounted within the bar I8 is a nut 25 through which a screw 24 is threaded and the screw 24 extends through a bore formed in the collar 22. A stopnut'26 is threaded to the screw to determine the initial compression of the springs I5 and IB. Means are also secured to the collar 22 for holding the collar from rotation, which means as herein illustrated includes a pin 21 which is secured to the collar 22 and extends through the bottom plate of the cylinder screen I3 and passes through a guide bore 23 formed in the bar I8. It will thus be seen that one spring I5 is secured to and stopped against one collar 22 while the other spring I6 is secured to and stopped against the upper collar 20.

Means are provided for effecting relative rotation of the springs I5 and I6 while they are positioned within the bowl IIl so that any sediment which settles within the filtering passes I'I may be dislodged and separated into the bottom of the bowl I and this means preferably comprises the following:

In order to maintain the leads of the springs denitely spaced, the springs are formed as illustrated on an enlarged scale in Figures 3 and 4 wherein the metal bands of which the springs are formed are stamped to provide spacer elements 30 which are forced out from the surface of the said metal bands so that when the springs are wound and intermeshed as illustrated in Figure 3, the spacer elements maintain the leads of the springs I and IB in denite spaced relation. As these spacer elements 30 are formed of the same spring steel of which the springs are formed, the compression of the two springs will act to force the spacer elements back into the spaces from which they are cut, whereby determining the spacing between the leads in accordance with the compression of the two intermeshing springs,

Secured to the upper collar 20 is a rotation pin 3| which extends through a packing gland element 32 carried by the cap 8 and carrying a rotation cross rod 33 exterior of the iilter. Thus byrotation of the pin 3| one of the spring elements is rotated with reference to the other causing the spacing elements 30 to have relative movement along the space of the springs, dislodging any accumulated matter which may accumulate within the iilter passes I1. In order to ush out such foreign matter, it may be advisable to close the valves 6 and I and flush a cleansing iiuid through the filter by removing the plug 5 and causing the flushing iiuid to be passed through the branch 4 and into the inlet 2. This ushing uid may be then caused to pass through the lter passes I'I and to sh the accumulated material into the iilter bowl I0 where it may be removed by removing the bottom plug 34 which is threaded in the bottom plug flange 35 of the bowl I0. By rotating the pin 3l back and forth all foreign matter which has accumulated in the filter may then be removed and Will be flushed out through the perforated cylinder I3 and will pass out of the bowl through the opening provided by removal of the plug 34. The plug 34 may be then replaced and the two valves 6 and 1 opened and the cap 5 replaced and the ltering operation may be then resumed to tilter the lubricating oil or other liquid or fluid.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that if it appears during operation that the filter is not operating eiectively to filter the fluid passed therethrough, that the filtering passes I I provided between the adjacent runs' of the springs may be varied by removing the plug 34 and rotating the screw 24 to change the compression at which the springs are operating. In order to permit this operation, the end of the screw 24 may be formed with a. screw-driver groove 36 permitting the screw to be turned by inserting a screw-driver4 through the opening provided on removal of the plug 34.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A filtering strainer including a iiltering or straining element composed of a pair of intertwined helical spring elements where the leads of one spring element lie between the leads of the other spring element, the adjacent leads of the respective spring elements dening clearance spaces therebetween for passage of iiuid, and means for turning one of the spring elements relative to the other.

2. In a filter device, the combination of a ltering element including a pair of helical springs which are intertwined so that the leads or one spring lie between the leads of the other spring,

said spring elements having spacer elements which are positioned between the said alternating leads, and means for turning one of the spring elements relative to the other.

3. In a lter device, the combination of a container having an inlet and an outlet, a periorated filtering cylinder mounted within the container in the path of uid flowing from the inlet to the outlet, filtering means positioned within the filtering cylinder comprising a pair of helical springs having leads successively intertwined, means for turning one of the helical springs relative to the other, and means positioned between the leads of the springs for maintaining the said leads in denite spaced relation.

4. In a filter device, the combination of a container having an inlet and an outlet, a perforated ltering cylinder mounted within the container in the path of fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet, filtering means positioned Within the filtering cylinder comprising a pair of helical springs having leads successively intertwined, means p0- sitioned between the leads of the springs for maintaining the said leads in spaced relation, means for turning one of the helical springs relative to the other, and means for axially compressing the springs to vary the width of spacing between said leads.

5. In a iiltering device, a filtering element consisting of a pair of helical springs having flat surface leads, said springs being intertwined to position the leads of one spring between the leads of the other spring, means for turning one spring relative to the other, and resilient means interposed between the said leads for maintaining the said leads in spaced relation.

6. In a iiltering device, a filtering element comprising a pair of flat helical wound spring-clef ments which are intertwined to position the leads vof the springs in alternate relation, means for turning one spring relative to the other, the leads I5 of the spring elements having resilient spacing elements integral therewith whereby the springs are maintained in spaced relationship to determine ltering paths between the said dat leads.

7. In a filtering device, a filtering element cornprising 'a pair of dat helical wound vspring elements which are intertwined to position the leads of thel springs in alternate relation, means for turning one of the spring elements relative to the other, theI leads of the springhaving spacing elements integral therewith whereby the springs are maintained in spaced relationship to determine filtering paths between the said at leads, means to compress the springs axially the spacing means vcarried by the at elements of the springs being of a yieldable character whereby upon compression of the springs said spacing elements yield to permit said leads to move toward each other.

8. In a filter, the combination of a pair of axially spaced members, a pair of intertwined helical springs positioned between said members and providing clearance spaces between adjacent leads for passage of fluid, one of the springs-being secured relative to one of said members and the other spring being secured relative to the other member, means for turning one oi the members, and means resisting rotation of the other member.

9. In a iilter, the combination of a pair of axially spaced members each having a cylindrical lportion and a ange, means for turning one of the members and providing clearance spaces between REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:`

UNITED STATES PATENTS y Number Name Date 408,487 Jewell Aug. 6, 1889 2,100,266 Perry Nov. 23, 1937 2,197,971 Elze et al, Apr. 23, 1940 2,301,430 Malanowski Nov. 10, 1942 2,308,865 Davis Jan. 19, 1943 2,342,669 Hoiman Feb. 29, 1944 i FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 527,259 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1940 

